5. Bryce Brown

Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

Scout’s breakdown of Bryce Brown went as follows: “Bryce Brown is easily one of the top players in the entire country. If you were building a running back from scratch, you would try to model him after Brown. He has the size to be an every-down back and the explosiveness, speed, vision,. and cut-back ability to take it to the house any time he touches the ball.”

At 6’0”, 210 pounds with 4.4 speed, Tennessee fans saw big things ahead for their program. Apparently all of the hype got to his head because Brown ended up transferring to Kansas State, where he only carried the ball three times all season. For whatever reason, he has decided to declare for the NFL Draft and likely won’t get drafted. He’s almost the definition of a bust.

4. Ronald Powell

Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

Ronald Powell has nearly identical stats to Jadeveon Clowney who will appear later in this slideshow, but he hasn’t been nearly as productive both in college and in high school. He had 61 tackles and 13 sacks in his junior year of high school. Those are great but not elite numbers.

Since Will Muschamp has taken over as head coach at Florida, Powell has moved to the Buck linebacker positions one of the most complex positions on defense. He seems to have picked it up more and more as the season progressed and is poised for a breakout 2012 season.

1. Jadeveon Clowney

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

A total of 144 tackles, 22 for a loss and 23 sacks. Those were Jadeveon Clowney’s single-season stats as a defensive end.

Mind-boggling doesn’t even do that justice.

Also consider that he came on to a South Carolina team deep at the position, with likely first-round draft choice Melvin Ingram and Devin Taylor already. But Clowney still managed to finish second on the team in sacks. In the SEC. As a true freshman.

More than 99.9 percent of players coming out of high school are simply not physically mature enough to play in the NFL, but this guy is one of the few. He will take over as a full-time starter next season and could become the premier pass rusher in the country.